Source: Eurosport
Cup bid will be unaffected - Watmore
FA chief executive Ian Watmore does not expect the violence at West Ham last week to affect England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup - as long as it is dealt with effectively.[LNB] Thirteen people were arrested after violent clashes outside Upton Park surrounding the Carling Cup match against Millwall on Tuesday, while inside the stadium there were repeated pitch invasions and reports of monkey chants. The images were damaging at a time when most thought football violence was a thing of the past.[LNB] But Watmore told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We have to get the perspective right. It doesn't help anybody to see those scenes being beamed around the world but, at the same time, it is a one-off and we have to keep it that way." [LNB] He added: "FIFA and UEFA and many of the associations around the world do come to us for a lead on combating violence and hooliganism, racism and other forms of chanting, and we have to remain the best in the world at combating that and remain at the top of our game. I think if we do it won't hurt the bid at all."[LNB] Watmore insisted the most important thing would be to make sure it remained an isolated incident.[LNB] "We have to condemn what happened last week at West Ham outright and make sure that it is a one-off," he said. "We have done a huge amount over the last decade or so to put our house in order on both the violence and the racist chanting.[LNB] "Indeed, the rest of the world probably looked to us for a lead on it. As we had a problem first, we solved it first. So we mustn't be complacent, we have to clamp down when it happens in this country, but I think we also have to have perspective. This isn't now endemic in all of our games. It was, at the moment, a one-off and we need to make sure it remains so."[LNB] Both clubs have vowed to ban any individuals found to be involved, but Watmore said there could be further punishments.[LNB] "We've got to do the investigation and ascertain the facts. In our rules the clubs have the ability to ban their fans and both clubs have come out and said they will do so," he said. [LNB] "From out point of view, we have to look at whether the clubs acted with all due care and attention and, if they did, then we have to work with the clubs and with the leagues to make sure that we clamp down. If they didn't then they can come into our disciplinary system."
